Chapter 1: Microbiology

• means a very small- anything so small that it must be viewed with a microscope?

  micro
• •an optical instrument used to observe very small objects?

  microscope
• is the study of microbes; with only rare exceptions, individual microbes can be observed only with the use of various types of microscopes.

  Microbiology
• meaning they are virtually everywhere

  ubiquitous
• 2 major categories of microbes?

  Acellular, Cellular Microbes
• AKA: Infectious particles?

  acellular microbes
• AKA: Microorganism

  cellular microbes
• Example of acellular infectious agents?

  prions, viruses
• Examples of cellular microorganisms?

  bacteria, archaea, algae, fungi, protozoa
• are less complex; organisms composed of cells that lack a TRUE nucleus, such as archaea and bacteria?

  prokaryotes
• are more complex; organisms composed of cell that contain a true nucleus, such as algae, fungi and protozoa?

  eukaryotes
• microbes that cause disease; 3% of microbes are pathogenic?

  pathogens
• microbes that do not cause disease?

  nonpathogens
• the microbes that help us is called?

  microbial allies
• microbes that harm us is called?

  microbial enemies
• AKA: Human microbiome

  the microbes that live on and in the human body?

  Indigenous microbiota
• AKA: Opportunists

  microbes that do not cause disease under ordinary conditions, but have the potential to cause disease should the opportunity present itself?

  Opportunistic pathogens
• although these microbes usually do not cause us any problems, they have the potential to cause infections if they gain access to apart of our anatomy where they do not belong?

  opportunists
• a bacterium called ________ lives on intestinal tract. This organism does not cause us any harm as long as it remains in our intestinal tract, but can cause disease if it gains access to our urinary bladder, bloodstream, or a wound?

  Escherichia coli
• a group of photosynthetic bacteria that produce oxygen?

  Algae and cyanobacteria
• genetically engineered microbes?

  Bioremediation
• microbes are essential in this field where a gene or genes from one organism (e.g., from bacterium, a human, an animal, or a plant) is/are inserted into a bacterial or yeast cell?

  Genetic engineering
• Microbes has been used as “_______”?

  cell models
• Some microbes produce oxygen by the process known as?

  photosynthesis
• is a substance produced by a microbe that is effective in killing or inhibiting the growth of other microbes; the use of microbes in the antibiotic industry is an example of biotechnology?

  antibiotics
• these microbes break down dead and decaying organic material into inorganic nutrients in the soil?

  Decomposers or Saprophytes
• is the process by which substances are broken down into simpler forms of matter.?

  decomposition
• organism that lives on dead or decaying organic matter?

  saprophyte
• aid in fertilization by returning inorganic nutrients to the soil?

  saprophytes
• The study of the relationships between microbes and the environment?

  microbial ecology
• microscopic organisms in the ocean that serve as the starting point of many food chains?

  plankton
• tiny marine plants and algae?

  phytoplankton
• tiny marine animals?

  zooplankton
• serves as food for tiny animals; Then, larger animals eat the smaller creatures and so on?

  algae and bacteria
• the use of living organisms or their derivatives to make or modify useful products or processes?

  biotechnology
• Microbes cause two categories of diseases:?

  infectious diseases and microbial intoxications
• results when a person ingests a toxin (poisonous substance) that has been produced by a microbe?

  microbial intoxication
• first microorganisms on earth?

  archaea and cyanobacteria
• bacterial diseases?

  tuberculosis, syphilis
• parasitic worm infections:?

  schistosomiasis, dracunculiasis, tapeworm